A  BOOKLET  OF  DECORATION. 


AVERY  UIRARY 

COIUMBSA  UKIv'ER'-ITY 


A  BOOKLET  OF  DECORATION 


BY  THE 

W.  P.  NELSON  COMPANY 


i 

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CHICAGO 


Copyrighted  1902 
By  W.  P.  nelson  CO. 


may  be 
that  is— 


N  this,  our  third  booklet,  we  have  illustrated  a  number  of 
rooms  done  in  different  styles  and  schemes  of  decoration. 

We  can  expect  to  give  only  a  few  examples  in  such 
a  limited  space,  but  these  suggestions  should  suffice  to 
demonstrate  how  we  can  transform  any  four  walls,  how¬ 
ever  commonplace,  to  a  room  that  is  delightful  to  look 
upon,  and  what  is  more  to  the  point,  delightful  to  live  in. 
When  the  decoration  is  the  work  of  an  artist,  one 
sure  that  only  one  thing  can  increase  the  joy  of  the  beholder,  and 
-the  introduction  of  a  charming  hostess. 


\  S  yellow  imparts  a  sunshiny  warmth  and  brightness  to  a  room,  it  is 
especially  suitable  in  a  Hall,  which  is  often  but  poorly  lighted  from 
without. 

A  cheery  and  hospitable  treatment  for  this  room  creates  a  desirable  im¬ 
pression  of  cordiality,  which  is  reassuring  to  both  guest  and  host. 

The  interior  opposite  shows  a  very  simple  wall-paper  or  stencil  decoration 
with  white  enamel  woodwork  and  mahogany  trimmings. 

The  style  is  after  the  Colonial,  with  furnishings  in  keep¬ 
ing.  This  style  is  particularly  well  adapted  to  rooms  in 
modern  homes. 


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COLONIAL  RECEPTION-HALL 


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UIET  and  comfort  should  be  suggested  in  every  feature  of  the  Library 
decoration. 

A  simple  style  of  architecture  and  furniture  is  suitable  here,  and  perhaps 
no  color  scheme  could  be  suggested  that  would  be  in  better  taste  than  brown, 
yellow,  and  green.  These  colors  even  harmonize  with  the  bookbindings. 

The  horse-chestnut  design  on  the  walls  might  be  stenciled  on  burlap,  or  a 

good  paper  in  these  shades  may  be  used. 
Portieres  shown  are  of  leather,  with  the 
design  applied.  The  woodwork  and  furni¬ 
ture  are  in  the  new  fumed  oak  —  a  finish 
now  very  much  used. 


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MODERN  LIBRARY 


"DLUE  and  green  in  happy  combination  always  make  for  coolness  and  rest 
— two  desirable  attributes  for  a  Dining-Room  of  a  country  house. 

For  this  room  a  modern  style  is  best.  A  scheme  similar  to  that  illustrated 
in  the  accompanying  sketch  may  be  carried  out  by  hand,  or  with  wall  papers. 
For  these  wide  frieze  effects  we  have  many  designs,  both  American  and  foreign 
goods,  that  are  best  described  by  the  expression,  “Stunning!” 

The  woodwork  is  hand-finished  to  tone  with  the  colors  in  the  walls. 

The  furniture  shown  can  be  built  to  order  at  a  very  low  figure. 


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DINING-ROOM  — MODERN  COUNTRY  HOUSE 


T  N  the  wall  papers  we  have  exquisite 
glazed  and  plain  chintzes,  cretonnes,  and 
similar  light  fabric  effects,  conventional  and 
realistic  florals,  L’Art  Nouveau  designs, 
and  other  novelty  effects  from  France  and 
Germany,  including  tapestries,  orientals,  etc., 
that  are  an  advance,  artistically,  over  any¬ 
thing  previously  shown. 

From  England  there  are  more  of  those 
large  floral  prints  and  Scotch  stained  effects, 
so  stunning  in  ornament  and  color  that  they 
have  made  English  designers  famous  the 
world  over. 

We  also  have  a  great  variety  of  designs 
in  Japanese  leathers  and  grass-cloths. 

In  the  designing  of  furniture  and  dra¬ 
peries  we  aim  to  get  away  from  ordinary 
lines.  Manufacturing  exact  reproductions  of 

lO 


the  best  examples  of  all  periods  is  our  specialty. 
Besides  some  fine  pieces  in  the  styles  of  Henry  II. 
and  Louis  XIV.,  we  show  on  our  floors  some  rare 
examples  of  Italian  Renaissance  chairs. 

Our  drapery  department,  like  the  furniture  design¬ 
ing,  is  a  comparatively  new  departure  with  us,  and  as 
a  consequence  everything  we  show  is  in  harmony 
with  the  very  latest  ideas.  We  make  a  specialty  here 
of  .extreme  imported  stuffs  for  wall  hangings,  por¬ 
tieres,  or  furniture  coverings. 

It  is  important  to  mention  our  fine  selection  of 
Dutch,  Flemish,  French,  Italian,  Chinese,  and  Jap¬ 
anese  underglaze  ware,  as  well  as  Russian,  Dutch, 
and  Colonial  brass  and  copper.  These  pieces,  both 
artistic  and  useful,  are  chosen,  too,  for  their  color  value. 
It  is  marvelous  how  much  a  dash  of  color  will  add  to 
the  beauty  of  a  room,  provided  it  is  both  in  good 
taste  and  well  placed. 


^  I  "HE  Dining-Room  of  a  city  house  should  be  overflowing  with  interest, 
^  but  withal  a  dignity  must  prevail.  Elegant  furnishings  and  warm,  rich 
colors  are  necessary  to  the  success  of  this  room. 

The  one  shown  is  in  the  style  of  the  English  Renaissance  or  Jacobean 
period.  The  walls  above  the  wainscot  are  hung  in  a  fabric  that  is  a  reproduc¬ 
tion  of  a  seventeenth-century  tapestry.  The  same  material  is  used  on  the 
chairs  and  screen,  which  are  of  carved  English  oak. 

The  ceiling  between  the  beams  is  rough  plaster 
covered  with  gold  leaf. 

Hand-painted  friezes  with  old  tapestry  or 
modern  subjects  are  now  very  much  in  vogue  in 
rooms  of  this  type.  For  the  execution  of  these  we 
commission  the  most  experienced  artists  in  mural 
painting. 


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DINING-ROOM— ENGLISH  RENAISSANCE 


T  N  the  accompanying  sketch  of  a  rose  Bedroom  an  imported  paper  is  used. 

The  flowers  in  this  design  are  fully  a  dozen  inches  in  diameter.  We  have 
many  of  these  large  florals,  equally  as  interesting,  either  for  wide  friezes  above 
stripes  with  plain  ceiling,  or  from  a  photograph  or  candle  rail  up  and  all  over 
the  ceiling,  as  in  this  one. 

The  furniture,  which  is  after  a  pattern  designed  by  a  London  firm,  may  be 
built  to  order. 

On  the  floor  is  a  matting  over  which  green  and  white  rugs  are  laid. 

The  bed  and  window-seat  coverings  are  of  French 
cretonne. 

A  treatment  on  this  order  is  particularly  good  for 
a  guest-room. 


GUEST-CHAMBER  — COUNTRY  RESIDENCE 


SIMPLER  but  none  the  less  artistic  Bedroom  is 
obtained  with  the  corn-flower  and  poppy  design.  This 
paper,  though  of  English  manufacture,  is  quite  inex¬ 
pensive. 

With  woodwork  finished  in  enamel  or  painted,  and 
'  the  furnishings  in  the  right  shades,  the  result  is  a 
delightful  room,  in  which  one  will  enjoy  working  as 
well  as  sleeping. 

Often  some  of  the  chairs  are  covered  with  a  chintz 
or  cretonne  which  may  be  had  in  many  patterns  to 
match  papers. 

The  over-draperies  shown  here  are  of  heavy  twilled  cotton,  with  borders 
of  the  cretonne  stitched  on.  The  under  ruffled  curtains  and  bed  covers  are  of 
plain  white  muslin. 


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BED-CHAMBER  AND  MORNING-ROOM 


OOD  decoration  does  not  result  from  a  mere  staining  of  the 
woodwork,  a  covering  of  the  walls  with  ornament,  or  the  hang¬ 
ing  of  draperies.  Nor  is  it  dependent  upon  a  lavish  outlay 
of  money,  as  many  suppose. 

A  careful  choosing  of  the  decorator  is  the  main  considera¬ 
tion. 

With  the  assistance  of  an  artist,  your  money  appropria¬ 
tion,  large  or  small,  will  be  made  to  produce  the  best  effects. 

He  is  an  adviser,  not  a  dictator.  His  chief  claim  to  your  consideration  is 
his  resourcefulness.  He  can  suggest  a  thousand  and  one  schemes  for  your 
rooms,  but  after  he  has  become  acquainted  with  you,  from  the  few  that  he  lays 
before  you,  you  will  rarely  fail  to  be  pleasantly  surprised. 

The  wonder  is  he  knows  your  tastes  so  well. 

An  artist  never  ceases  to  be  a  source  of  wonder  and  delight.  As  the 
musician  touches  your  heartstrings  through  his  violin,  or  the  poet  moves  you 
with  his  simple  yet  vital  verse,  just  so  does  the  decorator,  through  the  har¬ 
mony  of  color  and  design,  assist  you  in  expressing  your  ideas  of  home 
decoration. 

We  have  several  decorators  of  long  experience  in  our  employ,  who  are 
thoroughly  competent  to  originate  and  complete  the  decoration  of  a  cottage  or 
a  castle. 

i8 


We  give  especial  attention  to  remodeling,  redecorating  and  furnishing  old 
houses  from  start  to  finish,  embodying  ideas  that  will  please  the  owner  and  be 
in  good  taste. 

We  execute  work  in  any  part  of  the  United  States,  and  are  prepared  at 
all  times  to  send  representatives  at  our  expense  to  estimate  and  plan  decorations. 

Drawings  in  color,  showing  completed  rooms,  are  furnished  when  desired. 

Your  correspondence  is  solicited.  Even  though  you  may  wish  to  make 
only  a  small  wall-paper  purchase,  we  can  assist  you  greatly  in  the  selections, 
and  furthermore  aid  you  in  the  choice  of  the  furnishings.  Send  full  particu¬ 
lars,  and  your  letter  will  be  referred  to  the  proper  person,  who  will  give  your 
wants  his  careful  attention. 

W.  P.  NELSON  COMPANY, 

Telephone,  Central-3449.  193  Wabash  Avenue,  Chicago. 

Established  1856. 


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